Longitudinal Study of the FIRST IV Program: Biology Departments' Influence on Teaching

We explored the experience of biology faculty who completed the Faculty Institutes for Reforming Science Teaching (FIRST IV) program as postdoctoral fellows up to 13 years previously to better understand teaching professional development benefits for future faculty, and what departments can do to advance learner-centered teaching. We describe three kinds of departmental environments that can affect faculty in developing and maintaining three psychological elements needed for workplace satisfaction (competence, autonomy, and community) as defined by self-determination theory (SDT). We designed a reflection exercise for faculty that inquired about the three elements of SDT they experienced in their current departments. The response data were coded and reported as vignettes, a creative medium that illustrates the significant role that departments play in nurturing faculty growth, and development in pedagogy. The findings suggest that teaching development programs alone cannot affect deep and lasting change without departments that foster faculty competence, autonomy, and community. We can train current and future faculty to teach well, but authentic change will only happen with departmental support.